Lionel Messi returned to his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, on Tuesday for a short break following the World Cup final, where Argentina faced off against Spain and suffered a loss.
Messi’s private jet touched down near Rosario after a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 6:27 a.m. Despite a crowd of fans gathered with signs and flags, he did not make a public appearance.
All that was visible was the brief sighting of an SUV on the tarmac, which picked up Messi and his family to take them to their private residence in Funes, located about 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires.
The Argentine captain was reportedly accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, who had been with him throughout the tournament in North America.
In Rosario, Messi was greeted by his father, Jorge, who is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness, as announced by the family during the World Cup.
Fans began gathering at the airport as early as 3:30 a.m., eager to catch a glimpse of the soccer star. Among them were two young girls wearing Albiceleste jerseys, holding up a welcome banner that read: “Messi: You’re a legend. Thank you for bringing joy to our hearts. A whole country loves you!”
Messi is anticipated to rejoin Inter Miami in late July or early August for the ongoing MLS season.
Fifteen players from Argentina’s 26-member World Cup roster, along with head coach Lionel Scaloni, returned to Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport on Monday after a chartered flight.
The team’s arrival came after a challenging 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, decided by a Ferran Torres goal in extra time.
This match marked Messi’s third appearance in a World Cup final, following his play in 2014 and 2022. He concluded the tournament as the runner-up for the Golden Boot, scoring eight goals—two behind France‘s Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé now leads the all-time World Cup goal-scoring list with 22 goals, surpassing Messi by one goal.